The Naperville Municipal Band will host its Annual Spring Concert beginning at 3PM Sun. April 22, on stage at the Wentz Concert Hall in the North Central Concert Fine Arts Center.
“We’re saluting the Illinois Bi-Centennial, the 100th anniversary of the first World War… and the Navy,” said Naperville Municipal Band Conductor and Music Director Ron Keller, in regard to the focus of the 90-minute concert.
Keller also is upbeat that the concert will feature guest conductor Patrick K. Sweeten, Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy Director, Fleet Band Activities.
“I first met Patrick about ten years ago when he conducted the Navy band at Great Lakes and he brought the band here for the Memorial Day Parade,” said Keller, who is now serving his 53rd year as leader of the NMB. “We hit it off… had a lot of the same philosophies about music… And I’ve run into him every year since. Last fall I asked him if he’d come Naperville to be our guest conductor… and he agreed.”
Brief Bio of LCDR Patrick K. Sweeten
A native of Joplin, Missouri, LCDR Sweeten enlisted into the United States Navy in 1991 as a trombone instrumentalist in the Navy Music Program, and advanced to the rank of Chief Petty Officer prior to his 2006 commissioning as a Limited Duty Officer Bandmaster.
For a decade, enlisted assignments took him on tours of duty in a variety of leadership and musical roles with Navy Bands located in San Francisco (CA), Great Lakes (IL), Jacksonville (FL), and New Orleans (LA); followed by officer assignments with U.S. Navy bands in Washington, D.C.; outside Seattle (WA); Great Lakes (IL); as well as on board historic Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii.
LCDR Sweeten assumed duties as Director Fleet Band Activities in May 2016 where his responsibilities include supervision of all nine worldwide U.S. Navy Fleet Bands, totaling more than 400 personnel, and overall program management for the Musician rating.
Prior to his naval career, LCDR Sweeten completed his undergraduate education at the University of Kansas, graduating in 1988 with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Trombone Performance. Graduate studies followed at Pittsburg State University (KS) where he completed a Master of Music Degree in 1989 with concentrations in Trombone Performance and Wind Band Conducting.
LCDR Sweeten is presently a Doctor of Musical Arts in Wind Band Conducting degree candidate at the University of Memphis. Lieutenant Commander Sweeten’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (six awards), and the Navy Good Conduct Medal (four awards).
During LCDR Sweeten’s visit, Keller also has arranged for the award-winning band director to run clinics for local high school band students at Marmion Military Academy and Neuqua Valley High School on Fri., April 20.
Wentz Concert Hall is located at 171 E Chicago Ave. on the campus of North Central College.
For more info, visit www.napervilleband.org.
